Windows Vista Boot problems while Printer is Pluggeg

[Aethelwulf]

Hello everyone,

I just noticed how clever most of you seem to be, and since Dell
has no clue, I wanted to see if maybe you guys could help me figure this
problem out.

I have gone through all sorts of tests with Dell, and after 7 hours of
testing we arrived to some conclusions. My computer is working perfectly fine,
the printer is also working perfectly fine. There is a 25-50 percent chance
that my computer will Freeze during the DELL Loading screen where it gives
the option for F2-F12. However, this problem arises only when the printer is
plugged in. If it is succesful in loading, it wont give any hints of any
further problems. I have two identical printers (Photo 926 AIO Printer), I
tried them both in case maybe its just a faulty printer, but since both are
brand new including the system, my left conclusion is that somehow the
plugged in printer causes CPU to... enter a stupefying phase...

Computer Info:

Windows Vista Premium
Athlon 64 bit 5000+
2gb ram
256 mb nvidia geforce

Brand new system, problem from the whole start, only took 2 restarts to
witness it for the first time.

I am going to try to reinstall printer drivers again today... as the system
is so new... it only has 1 day of restore point... so thats useless right
there... for now.

Please any input, any ideas would be appreciated. Keep in mind I did pretty
much all System checks, and the computer doesnt acknowledge anything to be
wrong with it or the printer, or anything else for that matter.

 

[Aethelwulf]

bump.... went a whole page back in an hour... thats insane...

 

[Paul-B]

Hello everyone,

I just noticed how clever most of you seem to be, and since
Dell has no clue, I wanted to see if maybe you guys could help me
figure this problem out.

I have gone through all sorts of tests with Dell, and after 7 hours of
testing we arrived to some conclusions. My computer is working
perfectly fine, the printer is also working perfectly fine. There is
a 25-50 percent chance that my computer will Freeze during the DELL
Loading screen where it gives the option for F2-F12. However, this
problem arises only when the printer is plugged in. If it is
succesful in loading, it wont give any hints of any further problems.
I have two identical printers (Photo 926 AIO Printer), I tried them
both in case maybe its just a faulty printer, but since both are
brand new including the system, my left conclusion is that somehow
the plugged in printer causes CPU to... enter a stupefying phase...

Computer Info:

Windows Vista Premium
Athlon 64 bit 5000+
2gb ram
256 mb nvidia geforce

Brand new system, problem from the whole start, only took 2 restarts
to witness it for the first time.

I am going to try to reinstall printer drivers again today... as the
system is so new... it only has 1 day of restore point... so thats
useless right there... for now.

Please any input, any ideas would be appreciated. Keep in mind I did
pretty much all System checks, and the computer doesnt acknowledge
anything to be wrong with it or the printer, or anything else for
that matter.

If the freeze is during the boot screen it won't be the printer
drivers, which are not loaded until Windows gets to loading them. More
likely to be a USB problem.

 

[Richard Urban]

No it didn't.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Aethelwulf]

Hello Paul,

yes.. initially we thought that as well, so we went into setup.. he led me
through a few steps regarding usb controller and asked me to put it at no
boot, and for a while there it seemed to had made the problem less noticeable,
but far from over. If I may ask, by USB did you mean one specific plug?, we
also tried hooking it up through different USB ports, 2 on back and 2 on
front, but it changed nothing. As a further test I plugged in one of my usb
drives in different areas as well, and the computer picked it up.

Please any further input would be appreciated.

Hello everyone,

[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]

anything to be wrong with it or the printer, or anything else for
that matter.

If the freeze is during the boot screen it won't be the printer
drivers, which are not loaded until Windows gets to loading them. More
likely to be a USB problem.

 

[Paul-B]

No it didn't.

No it didn't what?

 

[Aethelwulf]

I believe he meant that it did not go a page back, maybe it was just the way
my screen views, my mistake.

 

[Richard Urban]

He didn't get bumped back one page in an hour. He still right there near the
top.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[BobS]

Despite what the Dell tech has told you, I agree with Paul about it being a
USB problem. I maintain a small business network for one of my friends and
the systems are all Dells (1 to 3 years old). Everyone of them has a
problem with both USB and SATA drives. There have been several BIOS updates
that addressed these issues but to this day, I cannot unplug/plug a SATA
drive hot nor do they recognize USB devices properly - all the time.

As a test, add a USB hub that has a power adapter - so in case the printer
is relying on any power from the USB port - it gets the full shot from the
hub and not relying on the computers USB ports. Plug the printer into the
hub and see if you have the same problem or not.

Got a model number on that Dell and what BIOS version are you running now?

Bob S.

Hello Paul,

yes.. initially we thought that as well, so we went into setup.. he led me
through a few steps regarding usb controller and asked me to put it at no
boot, and for a while there it seemed to had made the problem less
noticeable,
but far from over. If I may ask, by USB did you mean one specific plug?,
we
also tried hooking it up through different USB ports, 2 on back and 2 on
front, but it changed nothing. As a further test I plugged in one of my
usb
drives in different areas as well, and the computer picked it up.

Please any further input would be appreciated.

Hello everyone,

[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]

anything to be wrong with it or the printer, or anything else for
that matter.

If the freeze is during the boot screen it won't be the printer
drivers, which are not loaded until Windows gets to loading them. More
likely to be a USB problem.

 

[Aethelwulf]

Well I am not in front of the computer at the moment regarding the BIOS, but
it is a Dimension E521, as for the idea regarding the USB Hub I'll go ahead
and try that as soon as I can. Thank you for the input. Would it be safe to
presume a USB Hub would be only about $10-$20?

Despite what the Dell tech has told you, I agree with Paul about it being a
USB problem. I maintain a small business network for one of my friends and
the systems are all Dells (1 to 3 years old). Everyone of them has a
problem with both USB and SATA drives. There have been several BIOS updates
that addressed these issues but to this day, I cannot unplug/plug a SATA
drive hot nor do they recognize USB devices properly - all the time.

As a test, add a USB hub that has a power adapter - so in case the printer
is relying on any power from the USB port - it gets the full shot from the
hub and not relying on the computers USB ports. Plug the printer into the
hub and see if you have the same problem or not.

Got a model number on that Dell and what BIOS version are you running now?

Bob S.

Hello Paul,

[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]

 

[BobS]

I'd say $20 would cover a non-powered hub but not a externally powered hub -
probably closer to $50. www.newegg.com would be a good place to get a better
idea. See if you can't borrow one from a friend perhaps.

I just took a quick look at the Dell support for this model. Lot's of
updates for BIOS and chipset (motherboard drivers) and one jumps out at
me... CD,DVD, & USB dated 02/02/07 ..... hmmmmmm - me thinks you want that
one plus any others on this page...

http://search.dell.com/results.aspx...si=&spf=&ssysid=&ssysn=&stag=&~srd=f&~ck=anav

http://tinyurl.com/ywexpw < this ones a bit shorter...........

It's a critical update they claim.

So try these before you spend the money on a powered USB hub. And no, I'm
not surprised one bit that Dell tech support did not have you do any of
these updates. Do the BIOS update by the book. I would highly advise
against doing the BIOS update from within windows though. If it messes up
(and it does) you may be without a computer until they can replace the CMOS
for you or send you one. At any rate - do it the way they recommend, that
way the burden is on them.

Bob S.

Well I am not in front of the computer at the moment regarding the BIOS,
but
it is a Dimension E521, as for the idea regarding the USB Hub I'll go
ahead
and try that as soon as I can. Thank you for the input. Would it be safe
to
presume a USB Hub would be only about $10-$20?

Despite what the Dell tech has told you, I agree with Paul about it being
a
USB problem. I maintain a small business network for one of my friends
and
the systems are all Dells (1 to 3 years old). Everyone of them has a
problem with both USB and SATA drives. There have been several BIOS
updates
that addressed these issues but to this day, I cannot unplug/plug a SATA
drive hot nor do they recognize USB devices properly - all the time.

As a test, add a USB hub that has a power adapter - so in case the printer
is relying on any power from the USB port - it gets the full shot from the
hub and not relying on the computers USB ports. Plug the printer into the
hub and see if you have the same problem or not.

Got a model number on that Dell and what BIOS version are you running now?

Bob S.

Hello Paul,

[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]

drivers, which are not loaded until Windows gets to loading them. More
likely to be a USB problem.

 

[Aethelwulf]

Thanks a lot BobS, you have been a major help, I will try all of the things
as you have listed.

I'd say $20 would cover a non-powered hub but not a externally powered hub -
probably closer to $50. www.newegg.com would be a good place to get a better
idea. See if you can't borrow one from a friend perhaps.

I just took a quick look at the Dell support for this model. Lot's of
updates for BIOS and chipset (motherboard drivers) and one jumps out at
me... CD,DVD, & USB dated 02/02/07 ..... hmmmmmm - me thinks you want that
one plus any others on this page...

http://search.dell.com/results.aspx...si=&spf=&ssysid=&ssysn=&stag=&~srd=f&~ck=anav

http://tinyurl.com/ywexpw < this ones a bit shorter...........

It's a critical update they claim.

So try these before you spend the money on a powered USB hub. And no, I'm
not surprised one bit that Dell tech support did not have you do any of
these updates. Do the BIOS update by the book. I would highly advise
against doing the BIOS update from within windows though. If it messes up
(and it does) you may be without a computer until they can replace the CMOS
for you or send you one. At any rate - do it the way they recommend, that
way the burden is on them.

Bob S.

Well I am not in front of the computer at the moment regarding the BIOS,
but

[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]

 

[Aethelwulf via WindowsKB.com]

Yesterday I tried downloading the CD, DVD, USB Update, and I extracted it,
however when it came time to install the driver, it mentioned that the
program is not for the use of Windows Vista and is out-dated, very strange..
As far as the Power HUB, I should receive it by Tomorrow or Monday for sure.

Thanks a lot BobS, you have been a major help, I will try all of the things
as you have listed.

I'd say $20 would cover a non-powered hub but not a externally powered hub -
probably closer to $50. www.newegg.com would be a good place to get a better

[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]

 

[BobS]

I went back to the site and clicked on the "Verify Operating System and
Product Compatibility" and it states the update is for The E521 model and
Vista 64-bit OS. Sorry I didn't notice that yesterday.

If the hub doesn't do any good, get back with Dell and use their automatic
update feature that checks your PC for available updates and/or give them a
call and ask them to identify exactly which updates you need to make your
system current. I know they have that feature, I don't use it but it's
there under Dell Diagnostics I believe (???).

Have you tried turning off the USB ports in the BIOS. Now I may be wrong on
this but I think (and that's dangerous..) the OS will find the USB ports
after it boots up even though they are supposed to be turned off in the
BIOS. At any rate - try it. If you have any FireWire ports on that system,
turn them off.

Bob S.

Yesterday I tried downloading the CD, DVD, USB Update, and I extracted it,
however when it came time to install the driver, it mentioned that the
program is not for the use of Windows Vista and is out-dated, very
strange..
As far as the Power HUB, I should receive it by Tomorrow or Monday for
sure.

Thanks a lot BobS, you have been a major help, I will try all of the
things
as you have listed.

I'd say $20 would cover a non-powered hub but not a externally powered
hub -
probably closer to $50. www.newegg.com would be a good place to get a
better

[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]

drivers, which are not loaded until Windows gets to loading them.
More
likely to be a USB problem.